Guiding apparatus for installing well equipment



March 21, 1967 J. R. YANCEY 3,310,108

GUIDING APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING WELL EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 9, 1963 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN R. YANOEY ATTORNEY March 21, 1967 J. R.YANCEY 3,310,108

GUIDING APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING WELL EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 9, 1963 5Sheets-Sheet 2 IF'IE E INVENTOR.

JOHN R. YANCEY ATTORNEY March 21, 1967 J. R. YANCEY 3,310,108

GUIDING APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING WELL EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 9, 1963 3Sheets-$heet 3 JOHN R. YANCEY ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice3,316,108 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 3,310,108 GUIDING APPARATUS FORINSTALLING WELL EQUIPMENT John R. Yancey, Houston, Tex., assignor to FMCCorporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 9,1963, Ser. No. 328,817 6 Claims. (Cl. 16.5)

The present invention pertains to a guiding apparatus for installingwell equipment and more particularly to an apparatus for positioningwell equipment for an underwater well in predetermined attitude withrespect to the well hole and for maintaining the equipment in thisattitude.

In the installation of an underwater well, it is known to use apparatusfor guiding equipment into place in the Well. This guiding apparatus, orguide system as it is sometimes known, usually includes a base securedto the first string of casing; guide posts upstanding from the base; andcables, which have lower ends attached to the guide posts and upper endssupported from a drilling vessel. As the first string of casing islowered into the hole, the base is lowered onto the ocean floor.Thereafter, the well-head, the blowout preventers, the christmas treeand other equipment, are guided into position on the cables and posts.

When the ocean floor in which the well is located is substantially leveland the base is allowed to rest thereon, the posts and cables project upfrom the base in generally parallel relation to the hole and the casingand maintain subsequently installed equipment in alignment with the wellhole as the equipment is lowered into position.

When the ocean floor is inclined or otherwise of irregular contour,however, a problem arises with prior guiding apparatus. If the base isallowed to rest on the ocean floor where it has such a contour, the basemay bend out of a perpendicular relation with the casing, causing theadditionally relied on to support the first string of easing in the wellhole until this casing is cemented. Thus, the base must rest firmly onthe ocean floor in a desired attitude if it is to support the casing ina dependable manner.

It is .an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus formaintaining well equipment for an underwater well in a predeterminedattitude with respect to the well hole.

Another object is to provide well equipment-supporting apparatus whichcompensates for irregularities in the floor of a body of water in whichthe well is located thereby to support equipment in a predeterminedattitude.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for supporting the base of aguide system of a well installation on the ocean floor in apredetermined attitude.

Another object is to provide a well equipment-supporting apparatus whichcan be installed on the floor of the ocean without bending the base withrespect to a string of casing which is secured to the base and projectsinto the well hole.

Another object is to provide a Well equipment-supporting apparatusincluding a base which can be firmly bottomed on the floor of the oceanin order to support, at least temporarily, the first string of casing inthe well hole.

Another object is to provide liquid-controlled leveling units forsupporting the base of a well equipment guiding apparatus in normalrelation to the axis of the casing notwithstanding irregularities in theocean floor.

These objects, together with the other objects, will become apparentupon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic elevation of a drilling vessel and an underwaterwell installation including guiding apparatus embodying the presentinvention, it being noted that the vessel is only partially shown andthat the apparatus is broken away between the vessel and the oceanfloor.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the guiding apparatusshown in FIG. 1 as it is located on the ocean floor.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation of the subject guiding apparatus, with portionsbeing broken away and in section.

FIGURE 4 is a diagram of a hydraulic circuit used in the subjectapparatus.

A drilling vessel is schematically indicated at 10 (FIG. 1) and is shownfloating in the ocean 11 above a well installation 12. The vessel has anopening 15 located centrally of the vessel, and a derrick 16 is providedon the vessel for supporting, as well as raising and lowering, wellequipment through the opening.

A first string of casing or pipe is shown projecting down through a hole22 in the ocean floor 23. Equipment guiding apparatus 25 is connected tothe first string of casing and is located above the ocean floor. Asurface rised or pipe 2 6 including a slip joint 27 is attached to theguiding apparatus and extends upward through the water. The surfaceriser projects into the opening 15 in the vessel 16 and is retainedbelow the derrick floor 28 in a well-known manner.

The equipment guiding apparatus 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3) includes a base 30having a central collar 32 provided with a lower portion 33 into whichthe first string of casing 20 is threaded and an upper portion 34 intowhich the surface riser 26 is threaded. Arms 38 have inner ends 39rigidly connected to the collar and outer ends 40. These arms projectradially outward from the collar in substantially equallycircumferentially spaced relation about the casing 20. A rectangularframe 42 is secured at its corners 43 to the outer ends of the arms sothat the frame is rigid with the collar and so that the entire base,including the collar, the arms, and the frame, is located in a commonplane which is substantially normal to the axis of the casing.

The guiding apparatus 25 also includes guide posts 46 rigidly secured tothe corners 43 of the frame 42 and projecting upward therefrom inparallel relation with the surface riser 26. Cables 48 have lower ends49 connected to the guide posts and upper ends 5t) (FIG. 1) trained oversheaves 51 mounted on the vessel 10; the upperends of the cables thenceextend to Winches, not shown; as is well known, such winches maintainconstant tension on the cables while permitting movement of the drillingvessel 10 incident to wave or tidal action.

In accordance with the present invention, the guiding apparatus 25includes hydraulic leveling units 55 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which are connectedto the corners 43 of the frame 42 and project downward therefrom. Eachof these units includes a cylinder 56 having an upper end portion 58rigidly connected to the underside of the frame at its respective cornerand a lower end portion 59. Each cylinder has upper and lower ports 60and 61 located respectively in its upper and lower end portions.

Furthermore, each leveling unit 55 includes a piston 64 reciprocable inits associated cylinder 56. An O-ring 65 encircles the piston andprovides a slidable liquid-tight seal between the piston and thecylinder. Thus, the piston divides the cylinder into an upper chamber 66and a lower chamber 67, these chambers varying in axial dimensionsdepending on the locationof the piston within the cylinder. In eachunit, a shank 76 is secured to the piston and 3 projects downwardthrough the cylinder. An O-ring 72 is provided in the lower end portion59 of the cylinder in slidable liquid-sealing engagement with the shank.

Still further, each leveling unit 55 has a disc-shaped foot 76 securedto the lower end 77 of the shank 7th by a balland-socket joint 78. Thus,the foot is universally movable with respect to the shank into and outof a substantially normal position with respect to the shank. Adownwardly tapered spike 88 (FIG. 3) is connected to the underside ofeach foot, concentrically thereof, and projects downward from the foot.

Upper conduits 85 (FIGS. 3 and 4) are connected to the upper ports 60 ofthe cylinders 56 so as to place all of the upper chambers 66 in liquidcommunicating relation. Likewise, lower conduits 86 are connected to thelower ports 61 and place the lower chambers 67 in liquid communicatingrelation. The upper conduits and upper chambers constitute a closedupper hydraulic circuit 92, and the lower conduits and lower chambersconstitute a closed lower hydraulic circuit 93. Each of the upper andlower circuits are filled with liquid, indicated at 90', such as oil.

In operation, and by reference to FIG. 1, it is first to be assumed thatthe base 30 is located above the position illustrated in FIG. 1 and thatboth the first string of casing and the base are being lowered by thesurface riser 26. During this downward movement, the cables 48 are payedout over the sheaves 51 so that they move down with the base. It isfurther assumed that the ocean floor 23 is inclined as illustrated inFIG. 1.

Therefore, as the base 30 approaches the ocean floor 23, the feet 76 onthe right, as illustrated in FIG. 1, are the first to bottom on theocean floor. Continued downward movement of the base pressurizes theliquid 90 (FIGS. 3 and 4) in the upper chambers 66 of the righthandcylinders 56, causing liquid in the upper circuit 90 to be transferredfrom the right upper chambers 66 into the upper chambers of the leftcylinders. This forces the pistons 64 on the left downward, moving theleft feet 76 (FIG. 1) down relative to the base. The combined downwardmovement of the base with the surface riser and of the left feetrelative to the base is arrested when the left feet engage the oceanfloor. Of course, downward movement of the left pistons forces liquid inthe lower left chambers 67 (FIGS. 3 and 4) into the lower right chamberswhich have enlarged due to the relative upwardmovement of the rightpistons. It is to be noted that the ball and socket joints 78 (FIG. 1)allow the feet to move out of normal relation with the shanks 70 so thatthe feet rest firmly against the ocean floor.

When all of the feet 76 are bottomed on the ocean floor 23, downwardmovement of the casing 20 and guiding apparatus 25 ceases. Since theright leveling units 55 have shortened and the left leveling units havelengthened to accommodate the inclination of the ocean floor, the baseis supported on the ocean floor in a level attitude. That is, the baseremains in normal relation to the axis of the casing 20 which projectsdown into the well hole 22. As a result, the guide posts 46 project upfrom the base in parallel relation to the casing and are disposed toproperly guide subsequently installed equipment into alignment with thecasing.

Although the guiding apparatus 25 has been described for'use where theocean floor 23 is inclined, it will be evident that the leveling units55 will aocommodate themselves to other types of irregularities in theocean floor. That is, the four feet 76 may all bottom at differentelevations, or there may be only one high spot so that only one of thefeet is higher than the other three. The point is that, irrespective ofthe contour of the ocean floor, the leveling units 55 automaticallyadjust to the contour and support the base in the desired attitude.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that an apparatus for maintainingwell equipment in a predetermined attitude with respect to the well holehas been provided. The leveling units enable the guiding apparatus to beinstalled without bending of the base relative to the casing whileallowing the base to be firmly supported on the ocean floor. Therefore,the base is effective for temporarily supporting the first string ofcasing until it can be cemented, and it is also effective, incooperation with the guide posts, for guiding subsequent equipment intoposition.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described, it will be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made in the details thereof without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed to be new and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for guiding well equipment into an underwater well, abase having a predetermined plane and adapted for connection to a casing:projectable into the well hole, flexible means for lowering said basetoward the bottom of the body of water in which the well is located,said flexible means defining a guide path extending upwards through thewater from said base and earth engaging means for maintaining the planeof the base in substantially right-angular relation to said path,irrespective of the contour of said bottom, when the base is supportedadjacent to said bottom.

2. An underwater well apparatus comprising a base having a predeterminedplane, means supporting said base in submerged closely adjacent spanningrelation to a well hole, flexible guide lines extending upward from thebase, and a casing connected to said base and projecting into said hole,said supporting means being elevationally adjustable at more than twopoints about said casing for maintaining the plane of the base generallyperpendicular to said lines.

3. In an underwater well including pipe projecting into a hole in theocean floor, a base secured to said pipe above the ocean floor, meansconnected to said base for lowering it and the pipe through the water soas to move the base toward the ocean floor, and guide cables projectingup through the water from the base for guiding equipment down to thewell in alignment With the pipe after the base is supported on the oceanfloor, apparatus for supporting the base in a level attitude on theocean fioor comprising leveling units, said units including cylindershaving upper portions secured to the base in circumferentially spacedrelation about the pipe and lower portions projecting downward from thebase, pistons reciprocably movable in said cylinders, shanks secured toand extending down from said pistons out of their respective cylinders,feet individually connected to said shanks, fluid conducting meansinterconnecting the cylinders above their respective pistons in an upperclosed fluid circuit, fluid conducting means interconnecting thecylinders below their respective pistons in a lower closed fluidcircuit, and liquid filling said upper and lower circuits so thatmovement of any one of the pistons in its respectivecylinder causesmovement of the other pistons although in a direction opposite to thedirection of movement of said one piston.

4. In an underwater well including pipe projecting into a hole in theocean floor, a collar fastened to said pipe, said collar being locatedabove the ocean floor, arms rigidly attached to and projecting radiallyout from said collar, a rigid rectangular frame secured to said arms ina plane substantially normally to the axis of the pipe, said framehaving four corners substantially equally spaced about and from saidaxis of the pipe, means connected to said frame for lowering it and thepipe through the water so as to move the frame toward the ocean floor,guide posts rigidly connected to and projecting up from the corners ofthe frame, and means including guide cables connected to the posts andprojecting up through the water for guiding equipment down to the wellin alignment with the pipe after the frame is supported on the oceanfloor; an apparatus for supporting the frame in a level attitude on theocean floor comprising leveling units secured to said corners of theframe and projecting downward therefrom, each leveling unit including acylinder having an upper portion secured to its respective corner and alower portion, a piston reciprocably mounted in its cylinder, a shanksecured to and extending down from said piston, a disc-shaped footswivelly connected to the shank tor movement into and out of normalrelation with the shank, and a spike projecting down from said foot,each cylinder having upper and lower ports respectively in the upper andlower end portions thereof, upper conduits interconnecting all of saidupper ports and lower conduits interconnecting all of said lower portswhereby the portions of the cylinders above the pistons and the upperconduits constitute a closed upper fluid circuit and whereby theportions of the cylinders below the pistons and said lower conduitsconstitute a lower closed fluid circuit, liquid in said upper and lowerfluid circuit so that downward movement is imparted to a certain one ormore of said pistons in response to relative upward movement of acertain other of said piston or pistons whereby if the ocean flooraround the well is irregular, the first foot or feet to bottom on theocean floor, while said means continues to lower said frame, causes anexchange of liquid between the bottomed cylinders and the other cylinderor cylinders thereby projecting the foot or feet of the latter intoengagement with the ocean floor so that said leveling units compensatefor the irregularities in the ocean floor and support the frame in aplane which is generally normal to the axis of the pipe.

5. In an underwater well including pipe projecting into a hole in thebottom of a body of water, a base secured to the pipe above said bottom,means connected to the base for lowering it and the pipe through thewater so as to move the base toward said bottom, and guide membersprojecting up through the water from the base for guiding equipment downto the well in alignment with the pipe after the base is supported onthe bottom, apparatus for supporting the base in a level attitude on thebottom comprising leveling units which include cylinders secured to 4the base in circumferentially spaced relation about the pipe andprojecting downward from the base, piston-shank members reciprocablymovable in said cylinders and extending down out of their respectivecylinders, fluid conducting means interconnecting the cylinders abovetheir respective piston-shank members in a closed upper fluid circuit,fluid conducting means interconnecting the cylinders below theirrespective piston-shank members in a closed lower fluid circuit, andliquid filling said upper and lower circuits so that movement of any oneof the pistonshank members in its respective cylinder causes movement ofthe other piston-shank members although in a direction opposite to thedirection of movement of said one pistonshank member.

6. A well apparatus comprising a base having a central portion adaptedfor connection to a well pipe, leveling units including cylinderssecured to the base in circumferentially spaced relation about saidcentral portion and projecting downward from the base, piston-shankmembers reciprocably movable in said cylinders and extending downwardout of their respective cylinders, fluid conducting meansinterconnecting the cylinders above their respective cylinders, fluidconducting means interconnecting the cylinders above their respectivepiston-shank members in a closed upper fluid circuit, fluid conductingmeans interconnecting the cylinders below their respective pistonshankmembers in a closed lower fluid circuit, and liquid filling said upperand lower circuits so that movement of any one of the piston-shankmembers in its respective cylinder causes movement of the otherpiston-shank members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,265,494 5/1918Packard l10 2,210,408 8/1940 Henry 6146.5 2,352,370 6/1944 Carruthers6146.5 2,482,788 9/1949 Moon 6146.5 2,600,761 6/1952 Halliburton 6146 R.E. FAVREAU, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,310,108 March 21, 1967 John R. Yancey It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, lines 19 to 21, strike out "fluid conducting meansinterconnecting the cylinders above their respective cy1inders,".

Signed and sealed this 11th day of March 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR GUIDING WELL EQUIPMENT INTO AN UNDERWATER WELL, ABASE HAVING A PREDETERMINED PLANE AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A CASINGPROJECTABLE INTO THE WELL HOLE, FLEXIBLE MEANS FOR LOWERING SAID BASETOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE BODY OF WATER IN WHICH THE WELL IS LOCATED,SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS DEFINING A GUIDE PATH EXTENDING UPWARDS THROUGH THEWATER FROM SAID BASE AND EARTH ENGAGING MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE PLANEOF THE BASE IN SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT-ANGULAR RELATION TO SAID PATH,IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CONTOUR OF SAID BOTTOM, WHEN THE BASE IS SUPPORTEDADJACENT TO SAID BOTTOM.